Now that we're getting into the second half of August, it's the the time of year when we really start to monitor the far eastern Atlantic for budding tropical waves that could potentially develop into tropical storms or hurricanes.

Now that we're getting into the second half of August, it's the the time of year when we really start to monitor the far eastern Atlantic for budding tropical waves that could potentially develop into tropical storms or hurricanes.

The city council is looking at new rules Monday night to prevent sewage spills caused by restaurants. The proposed ordinance would put more stringent rules on grease management.

Water and Sewer General Manager Jeff Poteet says when grease makes it way past the safeguards in place it can have drastic consequences on the island's natural resources.

“There's all types of issues when you have waste water enter in a waterway,” Poteet said.

Poteet says a spill from a grease clog isn't a constant threat, but it happens enough.

“We have about 20 blockages per year and some of them do have a spill associated with them and some don't,” Poteet said.

Restaurants on Marco Island are required to keep grease in a trap or tank as part of a 2008 ordinance. A private company comes and drains the tank on a pre-assigned date written in a contract with the restaurant.

However, one drainage business says some restaurants aren't willing to spend the money for frequent grease removal, allowing the tank to fill to capacity. That's when sewage gets backed up into the restaurant or the grease goes all the way to the sewage facility.

“We have to show them that we have someone actually pumping,” Phillips said.

Phillips says he gets his grease tank pumped twice a month. The new ordinance would require larger restaurants to get tanks pumped more frequently than smaller ones because of the amount of disposed grease.

“It definitely will make a difference,” Poteet said.

“It is enforceable, it's not a hard crime I don't see anyone going to jail, but there are some penalties that go along with it.”

Poteet says the preventative measure is the only way to ensure better safety for the drainage system.

“Once it's in the waterway there's no turning back from there,” Poteet said.